I voted yesterday. Since I also wrote this blog yesterday, I don't yet know who won the primaries. However, I have to admit that I am not really excited about any of the candidates. So what do we do as Christians when we feel that way? Well, as I tweeted yesterday, I believe it is still a great privilege to vote. There was no waiting in line when I voted, but I am reminded of the pictures from countries in which the right to vote is fairly new and people patiently wait for most of the day simply to cast their vote.
One reminder of how we might think about any election comes from the Bible when it tells us the first affirmation of faith Christians made - it was very short and simple: Jesus is Lord! (Romans 10:9) Maybe we should affirm that one Sunday instead of the Apostles' Creed. When Jesus walked this earth, if you asked most folks walking around who was Lord, they would say "Caesar is Lord!" To say "Jesus is Lord" was something pretty radical - it could even get you killed!
What does that have to do with presidential elections in this country? Well, no matter who eventually gets elected, as Christians we believe this: Jesus will still be Lord! His kingdom may not be of this world, but one day we believe it will all become clear. We will see what the kingdom and the lordship of Jesus look like in their fullness. Until that time we wait, we hope, and we work to live out the values of God's kingdom here and now.
Jesus will never stop being Lord. Jesus will never look at the results of any election and say, "Well, that does it -- if that person is elected, then I am out of here!" And thank God for that! Looking back over the history of the church, we see both good and bad political leaders. Yet, God remains faithful through it all! Someone will be elected president, but Jesus is always going to be Lord!
Prayer for Today
Gracious God you have told us in scripture that if we confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts that Jesus is Lord, by your grace we will be saved. Help us to remember that Jesus is Lord through both the good times and the bad . Help us to show the love of Christ to all we meet. We pray in the strong name of Jesus who is the Lord. Amen.
